Resuscitation
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An increasing number of failing automated external defibrillators (AEDs) is reported: AEDs not giving a shock or other malfunction. We assessed to what extent AEDs are 'failing' and whether this had a device-related or operator-related cause. ⋯ Errors associated with AED use are rare (4%) and when occurring are in 72% caused by the operator or circumstances of use. Fully automatic AEDs may prevent the majority of these errors.
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Observational Study
Are characteristics of hospitals associated with outcome after cardiac arrest? Insights from the Great Paris registry.
As post-cardiac arrest care may influence patients' outcome, characteristics of receiving hospitals should be integrated in the evaluation of survival. We aimed at assessing the influence of care level center on patients' survival at hospital discharge using a regional registry of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients (OHCA). ⋯ In this population-based study, characteristics of receiving hospitals are not associated with survival rate at discharge. This might be partially explained by the prehospital triage organization used in France.
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Time from the onset of "low or no flow" indicators of cardiac failure to initiation of cardiopulmonary resuscitation is an important quality metric thought to improve the likelihood of survival and preservation of end organ function. We hypothesized that delays in initiation of chest compressions were under recognized during in-hospital resuscitation and aimed to develop a system which identifies the actual time of deterioration during cardiac events. ⋯ There is a significant difference between time of deterioration to initiation of chest compressions and the time of recognition to initiation of chest compressions. Resuscitation records should be modified to include more information about the actual timing of patient deterioration.
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Editorial Comment
Saving lives despite 'failed' extracorporeal resuscitation.
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Letter Case Reports
Asphyxia after complete avalanche burial: A new paradigm.